BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – The Town of Rockingham made history last week, when voters elected the first majority-women selectboard in the town’s 273-year history. Amy Howlett and Dalila Hall will join Bonnie North, Rick Cowan, and John Dunbar at the table.
Five-hundred eight voters from the Town of Rockingham and the Village of Bellows Falls cast their votes on Tuesday, March 3, three days following their Town Meeting on Feb. 28, where 14 articles for expenditure of public funds were authorized by floor vote.
A budget appropriation of $7,382,160, with $5,961,282 to be raised by taxes, was approved to fund highway repair and general town expenses. $436,780, with $387,250 to be raised by taxes, will cover operating expenses for the Rockingham Free Public Library.
Article 8 asked voters to authorize the appropriation of $4,500 for the support of Springfield Area Parent Child Center (SAPCC) to provide services to Rockingham residents. SAPCC executive director Danna Bare attended the Rockingham Town Meeting, and read a list of the services they provide free to local families, including child care financial assistance, weekly play groups, parent education, and a diaper and formula bank. Bare said SAPCC is supported by state contracts, foundation grants, individual donors, and town appropriations.
Bare reported, “In Rockingham, over the past year, we served 397 individuals across 120 unique families. Seventy percent of those families accessed three or more of our services, demonstrating both the level of need and the trust families place in us.” Bare told the meeting that $4,500 represents just $37.50 per family per year for members in the Rockingham community.
Additionally, voters authorized $130,564, with $67,314 to be raised by taxes, to maintain town cemeteries. $4,500 was approved to go toward Senior Solutions, the nonprofit that serves older Vermonters, and younger disabled Vermonters, with nutrition and wellness programs, and more.
The selectboard held its reorganizational meeting at 7 p.m. on voting day, in the lower theater, where Cowan was appointed selectboard chair, and Howlett vice chair. The board agreed to continue meeting on the first and third Tuesday of each month, at 6 p.m., in the lower theater, apart from July and August, when they will meet once per month only. Interim town manager Alex Torpey’s tenure was extended one month, and The Vermont Journal: Shopper Edition was reauthorized as newspaper of record.
The Little Art Supply Store was granted permission to move into the storefront located at 7 The Square, recently vacated by Works on Paper. Development director Gary Fox reported that Works on Paper had been an excellent tenant for 17 years, and they wanted the new occupant to come with a strong business plan and strong credit reports, and The Little Art Supply checked all boxes.
The board moved into executive session at 8:38 p.m., for the purpose of discussing the appointment of a public officer prior to hearing from citizens regarding any such appointment. The next selectboard meeting will be Tuesday, March 17, at 6 p.m.